Drain cock



D. L- PHILLIPS June 7, 1949.

DRAIN COOK Filed June 4, 1945 fA/vewrol? 3y DELEE'PT A. PH/LL/P5 M w m H1 e w E K/ .o m

Foe 74s FEM Patented June 7, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DRAIN COCK Application June 4, 1945, Serial No. 597,503

7 Claims.

My invention relates to valves, and more specifically to a device of this general character which is particularly adapted for application to a fluid container to provide a means for controlling drainage thereof as desired, although the device may, in many instances, be adapted for employment in lieu of various conventional valves in less specialized applications. A primary object of my invention is the provision of a simple and inexpensive valve, or drain cock which is adapted for rapid and facile operation with greater sealing efficiency.

My invention includes a slidable plate provided with a port adapted for registry with a passage through a tubular housing element and incorporates a novel means for achieving positive sealing action. Many of the conventional valves of this nature have been designed with such emphasis on simplicity of construction that the sealing action of the resulting contrivance is erratic and unreliable, especially when used with fluids of low viscosity. Other conventional valves of the slidable-plate type have achieved adequate sealing efliciency through the employment of complex combinations of closely machined component, the deleterious eifect of corrosion and accumulations of foreign matter on such machined surfaces being well known in the art. The sealing action of such valves, ordinarily achieved by disposing accurately machined, complementary metallic surfaces co-adjacently to prevent passage of fluid therebetween. is materially impaired by the pitting of the surfaces, a consequence of the corrosive action of many fluids. Accumulations of foreign matter, such as products of corrosion, gritty substances carried by the fluid, etc., tend to score the machined surfaces, thereby further reducing the sealing efiiciency, and excessive deposits may result in freezing of the valve.

An important purpose of my invention, therefore, is the provision of a simple and effective means for achieving positive sealing action which is sufiiciently flexible and resilient to accommodate any reasonable irregularities of the sealing surfaces to compensate for the effects of corrosive action.

Another object of my invention is to provide a drain cock of the slidable-plate type whose operation is relatively unaffected by corrosion and accumulations of foreign material.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a positive means for establishing the open and closed positions of the drain cock to prevent creep during vibration.

Another purpose of my invention is the provision of a drain cock adaptable for application to the drain holes of various conventional fluid containers.

An additional object of my invention is to provide an inexpensive sealing element which is readily replaceable.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will be made evident in the following description thereof and a complete comprehension of the invention may best be achieved by a consideration of the preferred embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 represents a plan view of my invention and illustrates the drain cock in the closed position;

Fig. 2 is an elevational sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and illustrates the closed position;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view similar to Fig. 2, but illustrates an intermediate position;

Fig. 4 is an elevational view similar to Fig. 2, but illustrates the open position;

Fig. 5 represents an enlarged elevational View in section along the line 55 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a slidable-plate which forms one component of the drain cock;

Fig. 7 is a side view of a transversely-arcuated annular washer forming one component of a sealing means; and

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the washer illustrated in Fig. 7.

The drain cock in general comprises a housing element or valve body ID, a slidable porting plate or valve member 30, and a sealing means 40. The housing element I0 preferably comprises a substantially cylindrical stem I I which terminates in a substantially square transverse member 20 disposed adjacent one end face I2 of the stem II. A portion I3 of the stem I I is preferably provided with external threads I l to permit application of the stem I I to the internally threaded drain hole of a fluid container (not shown). The housing It is provided with longitudinal, circular fluid passage or bore i5 therethrough and a circular annular groove It in the end face I2 thereof substantially adjacent and concentric with the bore I5, the groove [6 being embraced by a base wall II, an inner peripheral wall I8, and an outer peripheral wall I9, as best shown in Fig. 5.

The transverse member 20 is provided with a pair of projecting, parallel, transverse ribs or shoulders 2| thereon adjacent opposite sides thereof,.the inner surfaces of the shoulders 2| being recessed substantially adjacent the end face l2 of the stem I to provide a pair of parallel, transverse slots 22 therein which serve as a guide for the slidable valve member 30 as best shown in Fig. 5. Each shoulder 2| is provided with an arcuate central portion 23 and projecting end portions 24 and 25, as best shown in Fig. 2, which act as stops as will be discussed in detail hereinafter. As illustrated, a portion 26 of the inner surface of the shoulders 2| also forms part. of the peripheral wall of the groove l6.

Referring particularly to Fig. 6, the porting plate 30, preferably formed of a. resilient material such as spring steel, is generally V-shaped' and includes a pair of substantially parallel arm-s 3| and 32, the arm 3| being provided with a circular port 33 therethrough of substantially the same diameter as the bore l5. The free end 314 of the arm 3| is preferably curved inwardly as illustrated to provide a convenient means for actuating the porting plate 3|], as will be described hereinafter, and the free end 35 of the arm 32 is also curved inwardly. When assembled, the lateral edges 36 of the arm 3| are slidably disposed in the transverse slots 22 in the member '20, as best shown in Fig. 5. The porting plate 30* may be translated transversely relative to the stem H by a force applied to the free end 34, which serves as an actuating member, to cause theport 33 to-register with the bore l5, as shown in Fig. 45, thereby opening the drain cock; or the porting plate 30- may be moved in the opposite direction to bring the port 33 and bore I out of registry, as best shown in Fig. 2, thereby closing the drain cock. The free end 35' of the arm 32- slidablyengages and moves along the arcuate portions 23 of the shoulders 2| and engages the steps 24- and 25 at either end of its travel to limit the translation of the porting plate3|l when the latter reaches the closed or open position, respectively; Since the porting plate 30 is preferably made of a resilient material, the spring action of the arm 32 urges the free end-35 thereof into positive engagement with the arcuate portions 23 of the shoulders 24 at all times to prevent any creeping of the porting plate 30- from the desiredposition when the drain cock is subjected to vibration.

Disposed in the annular groove I6 adjacent the surface 31 of the arm 3| of the porting plate 30 is an annular sealing element 4|, preferably formed of rubber or a similarly flexible and resilient material, such as, for example, an O-type ring as is well known in the art, the inner periphery 5210f the sealing element 41 being adapted to: engage the inner peripheral wall I 8 of the groove I6, the outer periphery 43 being adapted for, engagement with the outer peripheral wall I8 thereof, and one side 44 being in contact with the surface 31 of the arm 3|. A plane annular washer 46. is disposed in the groove to adjacent the sealing element Gal and is adapted for eneasement with one side 4,5 thereof. A transversely-arcuated,. resilient. annular washer 411, best shown in Figs. '7 and 8, is also. disposed in the groove I6 between the plane washer t6 and the base wall H of the groove t6. Upon assembly, the; arcuated washer 4.1; is deflected to permit accommodation of the plane washer 46v and the sealin element 4| in the groove t6, the initial deflection serving to urge the plane washer 46 into. engagement with the sealing element 4!, whereby the sealing element 41 is compressed; and, engages the. peripheral walls l8 and t9: of thetgroove l5 and the, surface. 311 of the porting plate. as to efiect. a positive. seal therebetween The drain cock is of extremely simple construction and may be opened or closed readily by sliding the porting plate 3|) into the desired position by means of a force applied by the fingertips of an operator to the free. end 34 of the arm 3|, the sealing element 4| efiecting a complete and positive fluid-tight seal between the housing element In and the porting plate 30. Any corrosion deposits or accumulations of foreign matter on the surface 3! of the porting plate 30 will not materially interfere; with the sealing efiiciency, since the sealing element 4| tends to deflect to accommodate such deposits or accumulations. As: the porting plate 30 is displaced during operation of the drain cock, the sealing element 4| tends to remove, or wipe off accumulations of foreign material deposited on the surface 31 of the porting plate 30.

The-engagement of the free end of the porting-plate arm 32 with the arcuate portions 23 of the shouldersv 2|. provides a reliable safety device for preventing inadvertent operation of the. drain cock and further prevents creeping of the, porting plate .33 when vibration exists, by virtue of the increasing force exerted by the segment 32 as. the porting plate 30 is moved toward an intermediate position. The threaded portion |r4t of the stem H is preferably of a suitable standard size to permit threaded engagement thereof with a conventional drain hole, a pipe coupling, or a standard adapter as is well known in the art.

It will be understood that although I have herein disclosed a. specific. embodiment of my invention whiclris particularlyadapted for employmentaas adrain cock disposed adjacent the drain hole; 01?. afituid container or adjacent an end of a fluid cnnductingmember, those skilled in the art will: immediately recognize the applicability of inventive, concept to a location intermediate the: ends; of afluid conducting member. I do not intend, therefore, to. be limited to the specific disclosure. contained herein and reserve the right tov all. the substitutions for and modifications of my inventive concept that properly come within the scope. of the. appended claims.

I' claim asmy: invention:

1:. In a device of the character described, the combination of a valvebody provided with a passage and provided: with a guide defining a plane which traverses said passage; a rib on said body, said rib. being parallel: to said guide and having a surfiace arched in a direction perpendicular to said plane;- a plate slidable in said guide transversely'of said passage-to vary the extent of opening of said passage; and means carried by said plate and sli'dablyengaging said arched surface for releasably retaining said plate in any desired position in said guide.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of: a valve-body provided with a passage and provided with a guide extending transversely of said passage; an arcuate rib on said valvebody, said rib being substantially parallel to said-guide and having a surface arched in a direction substantially perpendicular thereto; and a plate movable along said guide transversely of said' passage to vary the extent of opening of said passage, sai'd' plate having an arm which is slidable along said arched: surtace.

3. A device as set forth in claim 2 including a stopon said valve vbody at each end of said rib.

4, In a. device of the character described, the combinationofi: a valve body provided with a passage and provided with a guide extending trans- I versely of said passage; a pair of arcuate ribs on said valve body extending transversely of said passage and located on opposite sides thereof, said ribs being parallel to said guide and having surfaces arched in a direction perpendicular thereto; and a resilient, generally U-shaped valve member provided with a first, plane arm which is slidable in said guide transversely of said passage to vary the extent of opening of said passage, and provided with a second arm which is generally parallel to said first arm and which slidably engages said arched surfaces.

5. A device as set forth in claim 4 wherein said ribs provide parallel walls on opposite sides of said passage, said Walls having slots therein which form said guide.

6. A device according to claim 4 wherein said valve body is provided with an abutment at each end of each of said arcuate ribs.

7. A device as set forth in claim 4 wherein said 20 passage, said device being provided with resilient means disposed in said annular groove and including an annular sealing element engaging said first arm and said valve body for providing a fluidtight seal between said first arm and said valve body.

DELBERT L. PHILLIPS.

REFERENCES CITED The following referenlces are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 226,266 Bergstresser Apr. 6, 1880 992,293 Thomason May .16, 1911 2,001,627 Nenstiehl May 14, 1935 2,357,232 Snyder Aug. 29, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 193,418 Switzerland Mar. 1, 1938 

